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I’m back with another terrific group of articles! The following share the themes of simple living and frugality. As an avid reader and writer about personal finance concerns, it’s interesting to see how reading more helps me focus on my goal of a better budget and savings. Hope these help you, too!

Thoreau, the First Declutterer by Danny Heitman
Have you ever read Walden by Thoreau? Well, if not, it’s about time! Thoreau is widely considered one of the foremost frugal fans of all time. He decided to move into a small cabin — isolated from much of society to write and reflect. In this article, the author points out how Thoreau modeled his life and can offer inspiration to others.

The Cloud Generation: No Longer Buys All The Things by Sheree Joseph
As technology has enabled people to forego physical clutter and fill cloud storage, minimalism is growing increasingly mainstream. The benefits are twofold: we’re buying and polluting less. Older generations have shown some hesitancy to trusting the cloud, while the younger, “Cloud Generation,” seems to be making the move in droves.

Stop Buying in Bulk by Eric Holthaus
It can be appealing to get 200 hot dogs, 20 bottles of ketchup, or a monster-sized jar of nuts. Big-box wholesalers such as Costco and Sam’s Club have made great businesses out of bulk sales. The math is generally simple: when you can buy more, you save more per item. But research is showing that we might not be saving as much as we hope.

The Best Waterfront Property Is Your Tent by Katie Jackson
This might be my favorite article over the last couple weeks. In a twist on tired travel guides, Outside Magazine proposes a waterfront property that isn’t yours to keep. But you’re welcome to have it tonight. Camping is one of the best ways to affordably travel, explore, and see the world.

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Last week I took a little break from the frugal round-up. Sorry Frugaling fans, but I’m back and have a terrific list of favorite reads over the last couple weeks. Hope you enjoy and share widely!

The Millionaire Pitcher that Lives in a Van [Video] by VICE
Daniel Norris isn’t like most star athletes. Heck, Daniel Norris isn’t like most people. With around $2 million in the bank from a baseball contract, he could be living well; at least, fancier than he does today. In the off-season, Norris takes to his VW camper van and lives, cooks, reads, and travels in the tiny enclosure. I love this guy’s story, and it’s neat to get a little tour of the camper.

What Would Happen If We ALL Stopped Paying Our Student Loans, Together? by Jennifer Schaffer
Growing numbers of graduates and students are doing something rash and potentially harmful to their credit score: they’re purposefully defaulting on student loans and refusing to pay them back. Regardless of your feelings about defaulting on loans — whether right or wrong — the rise in this behavior speaks to the broader context and problem. Student loans are over $1 trillion! A TRILLION! This is unsustainable and harmful to the greater growth prospects in America.

Pope Francis, in Sweeping Encyclical, Calls for Swift Action on Climate Change by Jim Yardley & Laurie Goodstein
Thursday, the Pope and Vatican released a 184-page document cataloguing the reasons why climate change is of utmost importance and what we need to do about it. The Pope talked about consumerism, throwaway culture, and how the victims tend to be those in the Southern hemisphere.

The Health Benefits Of Early Retirement Are Priceless by Financial Samurai
Consider this, working life takes a toll on people. Many are overworked and underpaid, and the stress of being in difficult jobs adds a terrible weight. The Financial Samurai points out the many rewards of early retirement (if it’s possible).

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Every week I like to feature a few frugal articles that caught my eyes. Curl up in your favorite reading nook and enjoy. Hopefully these encourage you to live frugal lives!

This millennial yurt is nicer than my apartment by Nitasha Tiku
The yurt. It’s a bizarre, unique, and pretty cool testament to simple living. The round base and slanted ceilings provide space for a terrific home. In this article, a young couple shares their decision to do more with less, while being environmentally conscientious.

Burdened With Debt, Law School Graduates Struggle in Job Market by Elizabeth Olson
Plenty of articles have highlighted the oversaturation of those with law degrees; yet, the talent pool is busier than ever. Jobs, unfortunately, are still very hard to find. One sad soul now has over $300,000 in student loan debt between undergraduate and graduate school. With a rough job market, it’s hard to imagine how debt can ever be paid off completely.

Want a Steady Income? There’s an App for That by Anand Giridharadas
It’s difficult budgeting and accounting for how much you can spend each month when you have a variable income. This fluctuation is a hallmark characteristic of construction workers, freelancers, and self-starters. One company is aiming to help people navigate the good and bad financial times.

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Today I wanted to feature a few frugal articles that caught my eye this week. Curl up in your favorite reading nook and enjoy. Hopefully these encourage you to live frugal lives!

Do You Give Money to Panhandlers? by J. Money
This is an important, age-old question that J. addresses. Should you give money to panhandlers and homeless people? What happens when you do and how will others think about the decision?

Human civilisation ‘will collapse’ unless greed culture is stopped, report warns by Andrew Hough
Unfortunately, our reckless abandon and consumption of natural resources is hurting us all. This recent Telegraph article highlights how our consumption and luxury cultures/needs push us careening down an unstoppable path of climate change. We need to reduce what we use for more reasons than our budget — it’s about everyone’s well-being.

What 2,000 Calories Looks Like by Josh Barro, Troy Griggs, David Leonhardt, & Claire Miller
It might surprise you to see this New York Times story about calories in food in a list of frugal articles. Incredibly, when you eat out you’re not just spending more money — you’re getting tons more calories. When you make food at home, it’s often healthier and contains fewer calories.

7 Financial Lessons Learned from My Parents’ Debt by Erin M.
I was shocked by this intimate and detailed article focusing on the lessons that one personal finance writer took away from her parents. The most powerful takeaways center on reducing possessions and that “Keeping up with the Joneses” feeling. Well worth a read!